to wind up the debate on the statement by the Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Giusto Catania
on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
on combating the rise of extremism in Europe

European Parliament resolution on combating the rise of extremism in Europe

B6‑0515/2007

The European Parliament,

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having regard to Articles 2, 6, 7 and 29 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 13 of the EC Treaty, which commit the EU and its Member States to upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms and which provide European means of fighting racism, xenophobia and discrimination,

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having regard to its previous resolutions on racism, xenophobia, anti‑Semitism, homophobia, protection of minorities and anti-discrimination policies, in particular that of 20 February 1997 on racism, xenophobia and the extreme right and that of 15 June 2006 on the increase in racist and homophobic violence in Europe,(1)

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having regard to European Union activities and legal instruments to fight racism and xenophobia, in particular Directive 2000/43/EC, implementing the principle of equal treatment of persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, and the draft Council Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia,

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having regard to the international human rights instruments which prohibit discrimination based on racial and ethnic origin, and notably the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), both signed by all the EU Member States and a large number of third States,

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having regard to the European Fundamental Rights Agency report on ‘Racism and Xenophobia in the Member States of the EU’, presented at the European Parliament on 27 August 2007,

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having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.
seriously concerned at the resurgence in Europe of, and rising support for, extremist movements and parties which base their ideology and political practices and conduct on exclusion, racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and ultra-nationalism,

B.
whereas some political parties, including those in power in a number of countries or represented at national or local level, have deliberately placed issues of racial, ethnic, national, religious and sexual orientation at the heart of their agenda, allowing political leaders to use language which incites racial and other forms of hatred and stokes extremism in society,

C.
whereas the extreme political positions often manifested by racist, xenophobic, anti‑Semitic, Islamophobic or homophobic acts or public proclamations sometimes stem from a variety of reasons and are linked to social marginalisation and exclusion, poverty and unemployment,

D.
whereas no Member State is immune to the intrinsic threats that extremism poses to democracy and whereas combating the spread of xenophobic attitudes and extreme right‑wing political movements is therefore a European challenge,

E.
whereas racist and xenophobic attacks are often initiated and committed by neo-Nazi and other right-wing militant xenophobic groups and their members, who direct their violent attacks at a wide variety of vulnerable groups, including migrants, lesbians and gays, anti-racist activists, the homeless and young people who belong to non-right-wing extremist subcultures,

F.
whereas Member States have introduced various measures against political parties that promote racism and xenophobia, including the withdrawal of public funding,

1.
Strongly condemns all racist and hate attacks, urges all national authorities to do everything in their power to punish those responsible and to fight the climate of impunity with respect to the attacks, and expresses its solidarity with all victims of such attacks and their families;

2.
Asks the institutions of the European Union, the Member States and all European political parties to condemn and fight all extremist political parties or groups which have as their aim intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence and to condemn without reservation all forms of racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and xenophobia;

3.
Calls on all political parties and politicians, as well as opinion leaders and decision‑makers, to denounce and dissociate themselves from any proclamations or acts which have as their aim racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and xenophobia;

4.
Notes that the growth of support for extreme-right organisations (often with anti-Semitic and neo-fascist elements) is linked to the worsening of the social situation, unemployment, globalisation, social marginalisation and school failure;

5.
Calls on the Member States to step up the implementation of practical measures to combat extreme political positions involving racism and xenophobia, including the strict implementation and constant improvement of anti-racist laws, information and awareness‑raising campaigns in the media and educational establishments, and legal action against parties or groups which promote racism;

6.
Urges the Member States and all political parties to monitor and fight the existence of paramilitary organisations newly established by extreme-right political parties;

7.
Calls on the Commission, Council and Member States to provide more support to NGOs who are monitoring and fighting extreme-right groups;

8.
Appeals to political figures at European, national and regional level, who have a responsibility to set a good example by promoting tolerance, understanding, respect and peaceful coexistence;

9.
Calls on the Member States to establish new local contact points for victims of extreme right-wing violence, which would offer counselling and support services to victims (such as information on financial compensation and how to report the incident to the police), as well as assistance in finding a lawyer;

10.
Requests all Member States consider the possibility of withdrawing public funding from political parties of a racist or xenophobic character;

11.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States and the candidate countries.